The Prophetic Words Of Jacob To His Sons

 Nadene Goldfoot                                               

Recorded in Genesis 49, these words were tailored to each son's character and past behavior, serving as both a personal farewell and a vision for the "days to come."His sons were elevated to full-fledged tribal fathers.  Even when he chastising his sons, he did not curse them, but their rage.  

Reuben: Jacob's firstborn, who lost his place of preeminence and honor because he was turbulent like water and defiled his father's couch. What he had lost ws is right to national leadership because of the impetuosity with which he rushed to vent his anger (in the incident with Bilhah (35:22)

Simeon and Levi: Condemned for their fierce anger and violent deeds (such as the massacre at Shechem), Jacob declared that their descendants would be scattered within Israel. (Levites were not given land by Joshua;  instead they lived with their brothers in teaching the Mosaic laws.)

  Judith taking the head of the Assyrian General Holofernes.

During 2nd Temple period this law of no connections to gentiles was dropped and this marriage to Judith took place  in (cf Judith 9:2: found in New testament only) when Levi had one daughter, Jochebed, mother of Moses) and 3 sons, Gershom, Kohath whose son Amram  was the father of Moses, and Merawri. It was these two who sought to disable Joseph, who is figuratively likened to an ox;   Christianity has filled in the family tree to connect Jesus into the Hebrew version.  Otherwise, in Jewish history, Jochebed was the wife of Amram, mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam.   Levi died in Egypt at age 137. 

Judah: Praised by his brothers, given military victory over enemies, and promised that the ruler's staff and royal authority would remain in his family line until the coming of the ultimate ruler (Shiloh). You, your brothers shall acknowledge!   Judah would be the source of Jewish leadersip and royalty of the Davidic dynasty and Messiah. ( So admired will you be by all your brothers that Jews will not say, I am a Reubenite or a Simeonite, but "I am a Yehudi!) Judahite:  Jew!  The privilege of providing Israel's sovereign ruler, symbolized by the royal scepter---shall not pass from the House of Judah  (Onkelos) (Until Shiloh arrives, meaning, the Messiah, to whom the kingdom belongs, according to Rashi.  

Zebulun: Prophesied to live by the seacoast and become a haven for ships. Rabbis associated them with trade, the scholarly descendants of Issachar being supported by the tribe of Zebulun.  

Issachar: 3rd largest tribe;  Described as a strong, hardworking donkey willing to bear burdens in exchange for a peaceful land. Some of the tribe was saved from the Assyrian exile, and men of Issachar answered Hezekiah/s summons to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem.  

Dan: Declared to govern and judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Mother was Bilhah-handmaid of Rachel. 

Gad: Promised that though a band of raiders would attack him, he would counterattack and triumph in the end.

Asher: Blessed with rich, abundant food and delicacies fit for kings.

Naphtali: Likened to a nimble, running deer who utters beautiful, graceful words.

Joseph: Given a rich and extensive blessing as a fruitful vine whose branches reach over the wall, strengthened by the Almighty with blessings of the earth, heaven, and deep.

Benjamin: Likened to a ravenous and fierce wolf that devours prey in the morning and divides plunder at night. 

Ephraim and Manasseh, the grandsons:  they maintained their Jewishness in the face of the hostility and temptation of Egyptian culture.  Jewish parents of the future should hope that their children show comparable commitment to their heritage.  

Right before these final words to his sons, Jacob also adopted and blessed Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, placing the younger Ephraim ahead of the older Manasseh as full heads of their own tribes. After finishing his blessings, Jacob gathered his feet into his bed, breathed his last breath, and died. He had blessed his sons so they would be directed toward the paths for which G-d had suited them, for his blessings would make  clear that each of the tribes has its own unique mission.  

Resource:

AI

The Torah/prophets/writings -The Stone Edition

Wikipedia